Feb. 4, 1899.] 
FOREST AND STREAM. 
91 
minnows that came to shoals for spawning influenced 
them. Sometimes the bass were most numerous on the 
smooth side of the lake, and would remain there for 
several days after the water had become rough, then dis- 
appear, to be found again exactly across the way. The 
bottorn of our lake was nearly basin shape, but there were 
a few inward channels, and the bass would approach shore 
by these. We took pains to locate these places. 
I remember discovering such a channel at one time and 
marking it by a gum stiag ashore. The next day a com- 
panion and I blistered our faces catching minnows, and 
in the afternoon went up there. Of course, my friend 
had heard a seductive yarn before he consented to go 
with me. I was sure we would have luck. But casting 
our bait around became very tiresome. After awhile we 
set our rods. Then each of us set an extra rod. My 
friend should not have looked at me in that manner. 
After I had turned my back I could not see his eyes. The 
sun had sunk very low. Then "zip," "zap," "zoo." and 
three reels were singing beautifully to us at once — music 
that continued with scarcely an interruption for over an 
hour. When it ceased there were more than 3olbs. of 
bass in our boat flopping gayly. Our aAvkwardness had 
lost a great tnany fish. During the row home my 
friend's eyes were not so disagreeable to face as they had 
seemed. 
One afternoon four boatloads of us were hurried down 
the lake to try our luck in recently discovered territory. 
The notification had been too brief for some of the com- 
pany to prepare. One young lady came in wine-colored 
silk and sported a parasol of robin-egg blue. Ned How- 
ard, the real estate man, had hurried from his grove. His 
large corn-field hat served first rate for a bailer. Soon 
after we had settled to M'ork, little Arthur and their negro 
hired man .sneaked a fifth boat in just astern of our posi- 
tion. Owing to certain defects in Arthur's "clothing, he 
faced us while fishing. It was the event of the winter in 
fishing circles. I enjoyed it. 
There were times, though, when it would have been 
easy to dance on shore with vexation. Women tangled 
their lines in the grass so unnecessarily, and snatched 
hats oflP with their hooks. It was "If you please," and 
"Beg pardon" every minute. Little Arthur kept me 
dodging a dangerous gourd that he used for a float. 
There was much hilarity mixed up with serious discourse. 
Sorne of the party were interested in a "hop" ; others in 
various topics, and the negro and I in fishing. He and I 
were catching all the perch too. But there! About the 
time that I was feeling very pi'oud of myself the Doc- 
tor's wife hooked an 81b. ba.ss. And she" was afraid of 
it! But she landed it. That fish mu.st have been aston- 
ished when it saw us. It had swallowed the hook. The 
old chap must have crept in from the deep. I fished 
that lake constantly for three seasons, and my largest bass 
weighed only 7J^Ibs. 
That afternoon gathering of boats down the grass belt 
was a memorable experience; but very few fish were 
caught. Smaller parties were often more successful. On 
one occasion three of us went through to the next lake 
and caught all the perch that we wanted. Every lily leaf 
over there seemed to be a swarming place for hungry 
perch ready to seize our bait, and to make our floats pop'. 
.And how those floats did pop ! It reminded me of shelling 
peas. We had to stop before we had used up half the bait. 
The sun was still high, and the fish were getting hungrier 
every minute. But we had caught enough for ourselves 
and for our neighbors. W6 had seventy-eight perch to 
take home, and the bunch would have weighed more than 
Solbs. Wfe could have tripled the number, I think, if we 
had stayed by our work. 
The speckled perch were fast biters when at work, each 
one was a puller, and some of those caught in Ariana 
weighed as much as 2lbs., but all of them were sham 
fighters if compared to bass; for the latter never sur- 
rendered, and sly old Fagins that lived in shady streams 
taught tactics there to a hard lot of .spawn. 
One afternoon I went across the way to fish. The run 
over there lay between steep brush-covered banks, and 
connected the next lake with Ariana. The bass had come 
to the shade because of the hot weather, and were creat- 
ing a disturbance in the run ; but they were very coy, and 
made me woo them by my approaching on hands and 
knees to look over the bank with one admiring eye, a. 
humiliating test that was exceedingly painful in thick 
brush, where sharp cactus needles cruelly wounded my 
knees. Those bass were superb, however, and after one 
was hooked, if it did not have me crashing through the 
bushes, it was likely to have the reel doing thrill music. 
Only six of them were caught, the largest a 3-pounder, 
but each one was worth a dollar. 
This was one way of enjoying the sport, but there were 
others, and among them a method that was new to me. 
For awhile a family monopolized a cove up on the ea.st 
of Ariana, where a deep channel ran in nearly to shore. 
The numerous children spent the morning catching bait, 
and the afternoon with their father fishing for bass at the 
cove. The parent waded out and took a position shoulder 
deep at the beginning of the channel, and the voungsters 
ranged on either side neck deep in the shallower water. 
Viewed from the lake the row of heads made a charm- 
ing picture that changed from woefulness to smiles, ac- 
cording to luck. I never disturbed them, for they had my 
best, wishes; I wanted to stand well with a father who 
would throw down his work thus to educate his family. 
Their rods floated in front of them, and when a fish was 
hooked it was hauled ashore. Sometimes a large bass on 
the, line of a small child would make the issue doubtful. 
On several occasions lakeward bound children were res- 
cued. One afternoon a hen 'gator interrupted sport. 
Loads of bass were caught, and the pastime was made re- 
munerative. But it was hardly fair for them to bring 
fish to our house and thus interfere with my pleasure. 
It was not difficult to catch a few fish if they were 
needed. I had found most of the likely places while 
cruising around in my canoe. Even the birds became 
acquainted with my craft and its crew. Sometimes, while 
I was fishing, the herons would stop in the shoal water a 
few rods away and croak a friendly hello. Several of 
them were either new to me or came in disguise. Per- 
haps Miss Willson or Didymus would have known them 
and have understood their lingo. A large 'gator that 
lived in the next lake was very sociable. If fish were not 
wanted, it was easy to find other amusement with a boat. 
_ ^ ^ . ^ H. R. Steiger, 
Fishing Near Home. 
"Whkw! Hot? Well, I should smile. Just sec the 
mercury climb! It's to 96, and the coolest place on the 
farm, I hardly expect Will to show up this afternoon, 
do you?" And I examined the thermometer, which hung 
on a branch in the shade, and found it 96. 
"I don't know," answered Sam, "It's a terrible walk 
from the electric cars, a day like this. If he starts he'll 
roast before he gets here." 
"Shall we load the wagon, and try the trip ourgelves if 
he don't come?" 
"It would be a hard pull for the mare across the mmm- 
tain a day like this." 
"I know it would, but we could let her take her time, 
and it would be easier for her to haul two of us than 
three." 
"That's right, too, but I'm against going unless Will 
shows up. What do you say?" 
Rather to our surprise Will did "show up." Dripping 
with perspiration, he rounded a bend in the road about 
6 o'clock. Then everything was rush and hustle, for we 
really had not expected him, and so had made no prep- 
aration whatever for the trip, 
_ A tent, blankets, fishing rods, cookinp- utensils, provi- 
sions, and other necessaries were hastily stored in the gro- 
cery wagon. Then, while Will and Sam puffed and 
sweat in an almost fruitless endeavor to collar a few angle 
worms, I harnessed the little mare. 
It was 7 o'clock when we finally started, and the sun 
had disappeared back of the mountain in the west. Our 
objective point was the New Reservoir, in the town of 
Bethany, Conn. I had dropped a line in its waters one 
evening, and soon landed a fine pickerel. Being in a 
hurry at the time, I stopped at this single contribution to 
my rod. I had not tried those waters since, but had 
Hstened to wonderful stories of large pickerel being taken. 
My proposition to spend a night and day there some time 
suited Sam and Will so well that this trip was the out- 
come. 
It was a hot climb to the top of the mountain for the 
little mare, and she was white with lather. The west- 
ern descent was made not without difficulty, for the 
mantle of night had fallen. It was not yet time for the moon 
to rise, and except when at intervals the lightning blazed 
in the west the night was as black as a pocket." 
Somehow, thunderstorms seem always to form part 
of the programme whenever I have an outing in the 
summer time. They are inconvenient, as is Dr. Dean's 
"ordinary dyspepsia" of the fishermen, which my friend, 
M ajor Mather, writes about. So far they have never 
killed me. The one in the west threatened for a while. 
Great banks of soot-like clouds poked above the Bethany 
hills, and the lightning flashed like hidden artillery back 
of sable intrenchments in the sky; and the thunder 
growled like a hundred Hons in a rage. This dazzling 
display gradually worked below the southwestern hori- 
zon, however, then the "heat lightning" of our unobserv- 
ing friends, who never realize that this is but the reflec- 
tion of flashes from a storm far below the horizon, was 
in order. 
After an up-and-down-hill trip of five miles, over rough, 
pitch-dark roads, we reached our destination — ^the res- 
ervoir. 
We started down a rough cart path, which I remem- 
bered led to the water's edge, and had gone about 20ft. 
when Sam, who was ahead of the horse, uttered an ex- 
clamation which halted the expedition. "We can't get 
to the water here," said he. "There's a whole mess of 
new rail fence, and no getting by it." 
We scrambled around in the bushes, blackberry vines 
and greenbriars awhile, and finally discovered a road that 
led to some bar rails. We lowered them, and after en- 
tering an uncultivated field the rails were replaced. Half 
an hour was then spent monkeying with other bar rails, 
stumbling and ripping through vines and bushes, an I 
driving over rocks and uneven ground that nearly 
wrenched the wheels off the wagon; finally we reached 
the water's edge. Here an ideal spot, in the heart of a 
thick grove of pines, was selected for our camp. 
The ground was littered wath dry, dead limbs. A good 
supply was gathered for a fire, the pine needles were 
carefully scraped away in one spot, and the fire was 
started. The horse was unharnessed, rubbed dry, tied to 
a tree and fed. The tent was erected, and after a hastily 
snatched bite rods were jointed and all hands moved to 
the water's edge. Sam and I fished, while WiU reclined 
on the wagon seat, which he had lugged with him, and 
made sarcastic remarks about our fishing abilities. 
It was after 10 o'clock, and half a moon had poked 
above the eastern horizon. It was an ill-defined blob, 
for Its rays struggled fruitlesly to penetrate a mackerel 
sky. Sam was first to wet his line, and before my hook 
was baited an unfortunate bullhead was protesting in his 
relentles grasp. "Bullheads for breakfast," said he. haul- 
ing another victim from its watery element. 
My hook had hardly touched bottom when I fOo drew 
a protesting fish from the water. They bit well, and we 
were kept busy unhooking them. We were agreeably' 
surprised to find few mosquitoes, and as Sam slid another 
fish mto the half-filled four-quart pail he ventured the in- 
formation that it was "too hot for the cusses to feel like 
biting." 
Not a ripple disturbed the mirror-like bosom of the 
lake. The ill-defined moon and stars, and the fleecy 
mackerel sky, were reflected from its depths so perfectly 
that one seemed to stand on the edge of the earth, and to 
look down into an inverted firmament. So real did imag- 
ination cause this to appear that I almost caught myself 
shrinking back, as one does when on the verge of a high 
cliff. A muskrat splashed into the water within 20ft. of 
me; and as he scurried for the center of the lake he left a 
wake which marred the placid surface, and my illusion 
was gone. Now and then the cry of a bird came to us 
from the head of the lake, and the frogs regaled us witb 
their raucous songs. 
We had nearly filled the pail when the moon's rays 
penetrated a rift m the clouds, and flooded land and water 
with silvery light. The sounds of a steamboat's whis- 
tle came to us from Long Island Sound, fully ten miles 
away. 
We got our plunder together and went to the tent A 
generoas supply of hay had been brought along in the 
bags for the horse, and to be used for our bed. A rub- 
ber blanket was spread under the tent and littered with the 
hay. Four or five blankets and comfortables were spread 
out on the hay, and a bed was completed good enough 
for us weary fishermen. All was now ready for us to turn 
in, but a stray bull regaled us with a not at all pleasant 
note, and all hands voted an investigation before turning 
in. We were uncertain as to whether he was on our side 
of the lake or not. 
"You fellows look after the horse and other things if 
he attacks the camp, and I'll shin to the top of this big 
tree and boss the job," volunteered Will. The "bull, liow 
ever, proved to be on the other side of the lake. 
The mosquitoes obliged us with their absence, and 
we slept fairly well until sunrise. Then, while I devoted 
my attention to the mare, Sam skinned fish and Will 
gathered- wood for the fire. While the fish were sizzling 
in the pan, I took my rod and tried for a pickerel. 
The day was bright, and even at that early hour the 
rays of the sun were Uncomfortable. Not a breath of 
air was stirring, and the lake was smooth as glass. The 
water was quite clear, and the bottom could be plainly 
seen near shore. Taken all in ah. the conditions could 
not have been more unfavorable for pickerel fishing. 
. I baited my hook with a narrow strip of salt pork and 
commenced to skitter. I whipped the water for ten 
minutes without result, then substituted a spoon for the 
pork; this, however, yielded no better result, for the wafy 
pickerel would not be lured. 
A whoop from Sam soon notified nie that breakfast 
was ready. The fish were crisp and brown, the coffee 
could not have been better, and the homemade bread and 
butter, and ripe red raspberries and other fruit, never 
tasted so good, it seemed. Then, the fire completely ex;- 
tinguished, Sam and I took our rods and went to the 
lake. Will satisfied his preference to lie under the tent in 
the shade and keep an eye on our things. 
We fished for an hour or so, then, as nothing rewarded 
our efforts, Sam returned to the tent. I wished to have 
a look at the head of the lake, so fished on in that direc- 
tion. I came to a spot where a stone wall entered the 
water and disappeared below the surface. Here I found 
a lot of pickerel scales, and they were from larae fish. 
_ Eight years ago there was no lake at this place. A de- 
lightful little trout stream flowed through the valley 
which now forms the basin of the reservoir, and a cau- 
tious fisherman's efforts might have been rewarded with 
a fair string of trout at that time. I once fished for half 
a day, and had the satisfaction of taking home nineteen 
beauties. Finally the New Haven Water Company cut 
down the woods and built a monster dam at a fatorable 
spot, and the lake is the result. For an artificial body of 
water, this is a beautiful sheet. For most of its length 
the east shore is heavily wooded with pines, and peace- 
ful farms slope gently down to its waters on the west. 
To the north green-foliaged hills form its boundary, while 
the dam .stretches its length jicross its southern end. A 
road runs along the foot of the dam, and the old stream, 
that I once fished, makes its appearance to the south, 
, where it flows under the road from the foot of the dam. 
and rushes roaring down through a heavilv wooded ra- 
vme. I have no doubt that the stream would yield a few 
trout now; but the large pickerel of the lake are a mys- 
tery to me. I never saw any before the lake was there. 
Keeping on, I fished over some likely looking spots-. 
but not a fin rewarded me. It was about to o'clock, and 
the sun was so hot that I decided to return to the tent. 
Here I found Sam and Will about to start off for a look 
at the dam. I joined them, taking my rod with me. 
We followed the shore in its windings, and had almost 
reached the dam, when a wild pigeon on a rock near the 
water attracted our attention. This was the genuine arti- 
cle, and not a mourning dove. I have read that the wild 
pigeon no longer visits this section, but I can say posi- 
tively that I saw a flock of ten or a dozen last fafl. I 
was close enough to see to a certainty that two were 
males. All the rest appeared to be females, but some may 
have been males. We watched the bird until it flew away. 
I fished right up to the dam, but caught nothing. Two 
stray pickerel did strike at the spoon, but that was as 
near as I came to taking anything. 
Sam walked under the bridge that spans the overflow, 
and Will climbed over the new rail fence into the roaL 
"Hello!" said he. "Here's a trespass sign; and it says, 
plain enough, that we have no business on the shores oi 
this lake." 
"Where's your sign?" I asked. "There was nothing of 
the kind when I was here last." 
"Well, they probably saw you then, and put this one 
up to keep you away. Can't say that I blame them if 
that s the case." 
"Possibly they found I was making a chum q| you, 
and, thinking I might bring you this way some time, they 
put the sign there." 
We bantered one another for awhile, then considered 
the matter more seriously. For one, I never care to in- 
trude where I'm not wanted. That sign said plainly: 
"You are not welcome. Get out!" We decided to move 
at once. 
We were a little mixed in getting across the fields 
to the road. This was not so with the little mare, how- 
ever. She showed an inclination to lead the way, and we 
let her do so. She reasoned the right path out (no in- 
stinct about it), and took us direct to the road. 
It was a hot drive home, but, covered with perspiration 
we arrived there in a couple of hours, and thus ended 
our New Reservoir fishing experience. W. H. Avis, 
Connecticut. 
World's Fair Pickerel Caught. 
A DISPATCH to the New York Sun from Delavan. Wis 
dated Jan. 29, says that "while fishing through the ice, Tini 
Smiley hooked a 22lb. pickerel. Attached to the fish was 
an aluminum tag, fastened by a ring through its tail. On 
one side is stamped, 'The Fisheries Building'; on the 
other, 'From the Fisheries Exhibit at the Worid's Colum- 
bian Exposition, 1893. Age, five years. Weight, I4lbs.' 
The tag has the appearance of oxid'ized silver, but is very 
hard. The edges are worn away, but the engi-aving is 
clear and distinct. Smiley intends to have the fish pre- 
served, with the medal attached, and may present it to 
the Field Columbian Museum. Fishermen here think 
the dates and weights will be valuable in determining the 
age of fish of this species," 
